Day 2&3: After 3rd Chemotherapy
I could have been attending my in-law-nephew's wedding this weekend. After learning my first chemotherapy, it became unrealistic for me to make a air travel to attend this wedding. Bummer. I had my dress ready for it. My husband attended there alone.
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Day 1: Neulasta Shot!
The precious, about $8000 without insurance, Neulasta shot today.
Read MoreDay of my 3rd Chemotherapy
I am half way done!!!!! 3 cycles of injections are done, 3 more to go with this hardest version.
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Day 19: Dr. Visit and Teaching
Oncologist's appointment was in the morning and everything seems to be good. 98.6F temperature for my vital check-up. In US, it is considered normal, but not in Japan. Anyway, I was considered normal.
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Day 17-18: Doing Great
It is such a short period when I can move around. I try to…
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Day 16: Visiting a Support Group -SHARE
My first time, I visited a breast and ovarian cancer support group. The organization, SHARE, is a New York City based breast and ovarian cancer support group, but open to nationwide. It offers hotline help, educational programs and topic based support group meetings. The picture is with Aiko, who runs the Japanese SHARE organization. （日本語は 英語の後に記述。） (click for the link) TOLL FREE HELPLINE 844-ASK-SHARE Breast, Ovarian, Latina, Caregiver
Read MoreDay 15: Neulasta Shot Arrived, with no problem!
Neulasta is a shot, that I need to have 24 hours after each chemotherapy. The shot prevents my white blood cell counts from going down, that relates to my immune system. Weak immune system can expose me for infection and it can damage me bad. That shot arrived today safely with a shipment. This shot is my third one.
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Day 14: Resting Well
No plan! I just rest well for a day. I will have to prepare for the next three weeks amount of teaching before the next cycle comes up soon. Tomorrow!
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Day 13: Teaching Day
Another teaching day today. Today, I look back, I was OK, not great. Oh Well... My face was a bit puffy in the morning. Maybe because I could not sleep well for the last two days.
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Day 12: Teaching day
The class was exciting with a lot of students who give thoughts to the lecture. Discussing with them was fun to do. Nausea is mild but persisting through out the day.
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Day 11: A day gradually being active
No medication for the last two days. I feel constant nauseous but it has been a manageable level without medication. I don't like taking medications all the time.
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Day 10: After 2nd Chemo
Day 10 is the half way in one cycle. Day 10 was the first day that I stayed without anti-nausea medication during the day. I will take one at night. The half of the 3 weeks-in-between cycle, my days are mostly spent lying down in a bed or couches and taking medications constantly. I only have the second half to be gradually being active. Time is very short to be able to move around, and it becomes very precious time to me. （日本語は英語の後に。Japanese is after English.）
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Day 9: A Healing Session
My friends visited me tonight all the way with a long drive (thank you!). They came to give me a healing session with their spiritual approach. It is their second time giving me their session, once I had after my surgery. （日本語は英語の後に）
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Day 7 & 8: after 2nd chemo
Day 7: DOWN in bed all day after teaching. WOW, it knocked me down. I felt so nauseous even after taking a medication. I had to call my doctor's office if I can take another kind at the same time, I am prescribed 2 different kinds. (Answer was YES!) I remember, the last cycle, I started feeling slightly better during day 7, and I took a short trip to the city. I took it easy and did not push that hard. but
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Day 6: after 2nd chemo - Teaching day
My 1st teaching day after my chemotherapy within a week. I still felt fatigue and I was nauseous in the morning. I took an anti-nausea medicine and I felt OK. I was in bed until I really had to get up to dress for teaching. Thanks to my parents for preparing chicken and vegetable soup. Although, no taste to enjoy it, texture was good to eat. I put my cloth, then a choice of my wigs... Well, I might as well do as bright as I can! Putting makeup and putting my wig, I totally look like a girl a la mode! When my outfit completed "me," my posture became great. I need to look proud how I dressed up. Fashion, give me power! I need it right now for teaching. So here I am, I look totally happy with how I am. I received a lot of complements all the time! People gave me big smiles as they pass me by. My colleagues thought I was just doing it for fashion and they really liked it a lot, and did not know my medical condition. So much fun. Those who knew my medical condition thought I pulled my outfit really well from head to toe. Teaching went well. I covered full course time, 2h and 40min. I was exhausted most of the time to walk around, but I just wanted to go around to communicate with my students to catch some issues they might have during class in exercises. Oh, I was nauseous. A way back to my home, a train ride was not pleasant. Full of people, I could find a seat to fit in. But I was nauseous all the day back. Once I am home, I washed my hands and cleaned my mouth well, I dived into a couch. I took another anti-nausea medicine. Time to go to bed! [physical] nauseous. I took anti-nausea medicine in the morning. No appetite, no taste. I was in bed or a couch as much as I could. [emotional] great! I just liked that there were moments that I was so confident of how I looked. It was fun. I am glad that the rest of the week, I will take a good rest.
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Day 5: after 2nd chemo cycle
Labor Day Weekend for BBQ! I did not have appetite, but my husband cooked steak for us and I could taste smoky taste. I could not really taste them, though. But I could eat a lot (-a little less than I normally eat). Thank you. [physically] fatigue. Nauseous as I get up or as I eat/drink something. I need to burp to clear that out each time. All day, laying in a couch. I was glad that I did not have to go for teaching today, it was off. Taste is gone. No appetite. My tongue has numbness sensation, just like after a dentist. My mom tells me I developed some red spots on my head skin. [emotionally] stable. I abundant an idea of moving around, then things look more optimistic. My husband seemed to be a bit stressed out today. I was not sure exactly why, but I was hoping it was not because of me... It was one of his rainy days today. My son was cheerful. He is ready for his new school year! I am happy to see him getting ready for it. Well, it is me. Intentionally, only putting in a small format. The picture was out of focus. Besides, I was not sure if you wanted to see me in this style much and being very casual at home. I understand a bald style provokes cancer image in some way.
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